Shopper numbers surge 36% as lockdown in England relaxed

Shoppers rushed back to high streets and retail parks on Monday as the reopening of car showrooms, markets and some Ikea stores marked the easing of lockdown restrictions in England.

The number of shoppers out and about soared 36% across all retail destinations compared with last week’s bank holiday Monday, and was up 21% on Monday two weeks ago, according to analysts at Springboard.

“It appears that even though only markets and car showrooms have opened today in addition to essential stores, shoppers are heading back into bricks and mortar destinations,” said Diane Wehrle, Springboard’s insights director.

Under new government rules, car showrooms and outdoor markets selling non-food items were allowed to reopen from Monday. Food market stalls in some boroughs have been able to operate since May, but many owners have chosen not to do so.

While the vast majority of non-essential stores, including clothing, shoe and toy stores, will not reopen until 15 June, a range of other retailers selling products classed as essential such as DIY, furniture and bicycles, have gradually been reopening under lockdown.

Ikea is the latest in a wave of furniture stores to open in the last few weeks, including Dunelm, Furniture Village, DFS and ScS. Enormous queues snaked outside the Swedish furniture store’s 19 outlets when they reopened for the first time since March.

Ikea stores, which reopened across the UK on Monday, were only allowing in one adult and one child per household and play areas and restaurants remained closed.

Ikea’s food market has reopened and the retailer was offering takeaway hotdogs, burgers and meatballs from its bistros.

Read the original article at The Guardian